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Sugar and Opiods- Are You All Dopamined up?

Palatable foods stimulate the brain to release addictive substances like opioids and dopamine in the limbic system (the emotional center in your brain).

In addition, opioid and dopamine synapses in the limbic system may play important roles in the reinforcement of behavior by natural rewards, i.e. food

Just like drug abuse can create dependency via this system, palatable foods might also create dependency, specifically, bingeing on sugar.

The first stage of this dependency is expressed when animals escalate their intake of a substance and show underlying neurochemical changes indicative of sensitization or tolerance. This leads to binging.

The second stage of dependency is the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. In some cases these are characterized by autonomic nervous system abnormalities and physical signs such as changes in body temperature, tremors, and shakes. There can also be behavioral manifestations, such as distress and anxiety.mass unfollow instagram